Tercentenary Logo

Entrance to Freemasons Hall

Where does it come from?

The standard chunk of Lorem Ipsum used since the 1500s is reproduced below for those interested. Sections 1.10.32 and 1.10.33 from “de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum” by Cicero are also reproduced in their exact original form, accompanied by English versions from the 1914 translation by H. Rackham.

YEAREVENT
2017Preparations are now beginning to celebrate the tercentenary of Grand Lodge in June 2017.
1992On 10 June 1992 over 12,500 Freemasons and guests gathered at Earls Court in West London to celebrate the 275th anniversary of Grand Lodge.
For the first time press and television were present at a meeting of Grand Lodge and the event featured on television newscasts around the world.
1967On 14 June 1967 the 250th anniversary of Grand Lodge was celebrated at the Royal Albert Hall. Centrepiece of the celebrations was the installation as Grand Master of HRH The Duke of Kent, who still holds that office today.
World WarsThe two World Wars both had a great effect on English Freemasonry.
In the three years after the First World War over 350 new Lodges were set up, and in the three years after the Second World War nearly 600 new Lodges came into being.
In many cases the founders were servicemen who wanted to continue the camaraderie they had built up during their war service, and were looking for acalm centre in a greatly changed and changing world.
19002,800 Lodges had been established despite losses when independent Grand Lodges were formed in Canada and Australia in the later part of the century.
1814Some 647 Lodges were in existence. The 19th century saw a great expansion of Freemasonry – both at home and abroad.
1813After four years of negotiation, the two Grand Lodges in England united on 27 December 1813 to form the United Grand Lodge of England.
This union led to a great deal of standardisation of ritual, procedures and regalia.
1751A rival Grand Lodge appeared in London. Its original members were Irish Masons who claimed that the original Grand Lodge had made innovations.
They dubbed the first Grand Lodge the Moderns and called themselves theAntients.
The two existed side by side – both at home and abroad – for nearly 63 years, neither recognising each other as regular.
1736The Grand Lodge of Scotland was established.
The three Home Grand Lodges began to take Freemasonry overseas and the development of Freemasonry abroad mirrors the 18th and 19th century development of the British E.
1725The Grand Lodge of Ireland was established.
1723By this time the new Grand Lodge had published its first rule book – The Book of Constitutions of Masonry – and was meeting quarterly and recording its meetings. It had extended its authority outside London.
1717On 24 June 1717 four London Lodges, which had existed for some time, came together at the Goose and Gridiron Tavern in St Paul’s Churchyard, declared themselves a Grand Lodge and elected Anthony Sayer as their Grand Master. This was the first Grand Lodge in the world
1660From the 1660s more evidence exists of gentlemen being made Masons innon-operative Lodges..
1646A site is acquired in Great Queen Street, London, consisting of a tavern house fronting the street with a garden behind leading to a second house. Thomas Sandby, RA, wins the architect’s competition for the Hall. His Grand Hall is built over the garden, linking the two houses.
Middle AgesThe questions of when, how, why and where Freemasonry originated are still the subject of intense speculation.
The general consensus amongst Masonic scholars is that it descends directly or indirectly from the organisation of operative stone masons who built the great cathedrals and castles of the middle ages.